The Lin's Patriarch is weird.

Shangguan Jie rested his hands upon his knees and looked at Lin Xuan.

"Before I explain the matter, there is something you should understand, Patriarch Lin."

His expression remained polite, but there was a faint sense of importance in his tone.

"I want you to understand that the reason your family was given this opportunity is only because the Shangguan Family recommended the Lin Family."

His words were simple, yet the implication behind them was unmistakable.

"If our family had not spoken on your behalf, this opportunity would likely have gone to another family."

Lin Xuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Shangguan Jie continued.

"My family has extended considerable goodwill toward the Lin Family. I hope Patriarch Lin understands what that means."

Lin Xuan looked at him calmly.

He naturally understood.

The young city lord was not merely offering congratulations.

He was reminding him that the Lin Family owed the Shangguan Family a favor.

It was a polite reminder, wrapped in courteous words.

The importance of the Winter Harvest was far greater than its name suggested.

It was one of the most important cultivation events held within the Loushi Kingdom.

During winter, the vast Yew Woods underwent a remarkable transformation.

The spirit beasts inhabiting the region either entered hibernation or migrated toward warmer territories. Many of the stronger beasts would burrow deep beneath the earth, retreat into caves, or conceal themselves within ancient trees and mountain crevices.

For human cultivators, this created a rare opportunity.

Spirit beasts that would normally be extremely difficult to track became considerably easier to locate while hibernating.

At the same time, many spirit herbs that could not be safely harvested during other seasons became accessible.

Thus, every winter, countless cultivators would travel toward the Yew Woods.

The royal family had turned this seasonal phenomenon into an enormous annual event.

The Winter Harvest.

The event was not merely about hunting spirit beasts.

Its true purpose was the continued expansion of habitable land.

The Yew Woods was vast.

Much of its territory remained dangerous and untouched, occupied almost entirely by spirit beasts and other creatures.

Every time cultivators ventured into the region and cleared out dangerous beasts, more land could eventually be developed for human settlement.

Azure Willow City itself had once been established through this very process.

Generation after generation, cultivators had pushed deeper into the wilderness, cleared dangerous regions, and transformed them into places where ordinary people could eventually build their homes.

The Winter Harvest turned that enormous undertaking into a competition.

Every family that registered for the event could send its cultivators into the Yew Woods.

They would hunt the hibernating spirit beasts and return with their heads as proof of their accomplishments.

The more powerful beasts a faction killed, the greater the prestige points they get.

And after a faction or an individual accumulated enough prestige points, they could gain access to the royal treasury and exchange for an artifact from within it.

For cultivation families, that reward alone was enough to make the Winter Harvest worth competing for.

But the event was not restricted to clans.

Vagabond cultivators and lone cultivators were welcomed as well.

Anyone with sufficient courage and ability could participate.

As a result, every Winter Harvest attracted an enormous number of cultivators from across the kingdom.

And that was precisely why being selected as the host was both an honor and a burden.

The host family was responsible for providing sufficient accommodation for the representatives of the participating families.

That meant arranging residences, halls, marketplaces, restaurants, transportation, security, servants, and countless other necessities.

The expenses were enormous.

For a weaker family, hosting the Winter Harvest could easily become a financial disaster.

Yet there was one enormous advantage.

The host family controlled the official sales channels surrounding the event.

In particular, Everwinter Soul Calming Pills would be sold through the host family’s channels.

Every participating faction entering the Yew Woods would purchase them, it was a necessity to survive inside the forest.

And with thousands of cultivators potentially gathering in one place, the demand could become astonishing.

The Lin Family would not need to pay another family tax during this period to sell their pills.

They controlled the channels themselves, they would be the one claiming taxes instead!

There was another benefit as well.

The spirit beasts brought back from the Winter Harvest were divided between the host and the royal family according to an established arrangement.

Seventy percent went to the royal family.

The remaining thirty percent belonged to the host.

The significance of the Winter Harvest was very clear.

Shangguan Jie watched him carefully.

"The Shangguan Family expects the Lin Family to remember this opportunity was made possible because of our recommendation."

Lin Xuan had the urge to grab him by the ear and ask how many times he was going to repeat that but inevitably he hold himself back each time.

Shangguan Jie was silent for a moment before finally revealing the true purpose of his visit.

"Since the Shangguan Family was the one that recommended the Lin Family, we naturally hope to receive something in return. During the Winter Harvest, the Shangguan family want to purchase the portion of the spirit beast carcasses that’ll have originally gone to your family."

He paused before adding,

"The quantity can be agreed upon beforehand, and the price will be fair. Consider it a token of appreciation for the opportunity our family helped secure for you."

Lin Xuan considered it briefly before nodding.

"That is reasonable."

A faint smile appeared on Shangguan Jie’s face.

"Then I believe we have an understanding."

With the matter settled, Shangguan Jie did not remain for long.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before the young city lord rose from his seat.

"I will not disturb Patriarch Lin any longer. I look forward to seeing what the Lin Family accomplishes during the Winter Harvest."

Lin Xuan stood and returned the gesture.

"Safe travels, Young City Lord."

Shangguan Jie cupped his fists once more before turning and leaving the courtyard.